By Kat Hasenauer Cornetta
WALTHAM ‹ It was a beautiful afternoon at Bentley University¹s DeFelice
Field as Nick Latham of St. John¹s Prep jogged out to right field for the
Eastern squad at the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association Junior
Select Game.
With college coaches and Major League Baseball scouts lining the stands,
Latham wanted to show his best. Then his best sent him into the fence.
When the game¹s second batter, Hudson¹s Ben Palatino, hit a ball that
floated down the right field foul line, Latham took off after it. Latham
wound up slamming into the fence as the ball dropped over it in foul
territory. Although he remained in the game after hurting his neck, Latham
feared the injury might impact his batting.
³It hurts to turn my head to the right side, and I¹m a left batter,² Latham
said.
With his team down 2-0 to Central/Western in the fourth inning, Latham hit
an opposite-field double to bring in Bishop Feehan¹s Alex Richardson and
Millis¹ Matt Fogarty to tie the game, which the Eastern side would go on to
win, 4-3.
The injury limited his time in the outfield, but Latham was still pleased
with his performance.
³I was glad I was able to play through it,² Latham said. ³I was just glad I
could get the hit to help the team.²
After Latham¹s two-run double, Oliver Ames¹ Brendan Welch pitched a perfect
fifth inning, earning him Most Valuable Pitcher honors for the East.
In the sixth, Central/Western took a 3-2 lead when Wachusett¹s Connor Gill
scored. In the home half of the inning, East Bridgewater¹s Connor Gavin hit
a single down the third base line, dashed to third on a hit by Pope John
Paul II¹s Matt Santos, then scored the tying run when Acton-Boxboro¹s Bobby
Pedersen hit a single up the middle.
In the eighth inning, New Bedford¹s Chandler Debrosse was hit by a pitch
from Amherst Regional¹s Jamie Carey, stole second and moved to third on a
wild pitch. Debrosse scored the go-ahead run when Lynnfield¹s Traverse
Briana singled to left field.
Richardson was named the Eastern team¹s Most Valuable Player, going 2-for-2
and enjoying a stellar day in the outfield. Despite the scouts in
attendance, Richardson did not let the pressure bother him.
³I put them out of my mind, and I just focused on having fun,² Richardson
said. ³This time out here was to enjoy it and play with a group of great
guys.²
MVP EAST-Alex Richardson (Bishop Feehan)
Most Valuable Pitcher- Brendan Welch (Oliver Ames)
MVP CENTRAL WEST- Jamie Carey (Amherst Regional)
Most Valuable Pitcher- Dan Barlok (St. John’s-Shrewsbury)